Umbrella



Jan. 16, 1940. L. A. CAPALDO 2,187,372

UMBRELLA Filed April 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig J23 INVENTOR, $0111.73 Cl- Ca aldo ATTORNEY! KWWWZ Jan. 16, 1940. I... A. CAPALDO UMBRELLA Filed April 20, 1937 INVF 01111 (1 Capalmm, Wham ill!!! RP L 11 3 I 53' Pr vII rIl/I/Il/I/IIIl/lll/A ifllllll/fl/II/IIII! ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1940- L. A. CAPALDO UMBRELLA 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20,

INVENTOR. paldo ATTORNEYS .Xouis (7. Ca BY 4 vpln IIIIIIIIIIIIII Il/I'llll'll V/IIIII.

iotentecl Jan. 16, 1940 UNITE STATES FPTET OFFICE UMBRELLA Louis A. Capaldo, New York, N. Y.

Application April 20, 1937, Serial No. 137,906

4 Claims. (Cl. 13524) My invention relates to a new and improved collapsible Lunbrella.

One of the objects of the invention is to make an umbrella of simple and sturdy and efficient construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella which is opened automatically, when the handle of the umbrella is suitably actuated in order to release the tips of the ribs of the umbrella.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella which has springs which operate to open the umbrella, upon operating a suitable release.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same Without limiting it in any manner. I

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment condition.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the line 6- of Fig. 5, showing the tips of the ribs released from the handle.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 'l--l' of Fig. 5, showing the latch which holds the sections of the stick in extended position, in the inoperative position of said latch.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. '7, showing said latch in its operative position, so as to releas- 45 ,ably hold the sections of the stick in their fully tied form of latch.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line HH of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the latch which is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

5 Fig. 13 illustrates another modified form of latch.

Fig. 14: is a sectional view on the line I l-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows another modified form of latch.

Fig. 16 is the same asFig. 15, save that Fig. 15 shows the latch in its locking position, and Fig. 16 shows the latch in its non-locking position.

Fig. 17 is a detailed perspective view showing the constructionxoi the ribs, and the runner.

Fig. 18 is a sectional View on the line l8--l8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 isa sectional View on the line [9-49 of Fig. 18.

20 Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 18 and in Fig. 1'7.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 illustrates a modified form of the handle.

Fig. 24 is a sectional View on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view on the line 25-45 of Fig. 23.

Fig, 26 is a detail elevation showing difierent relative positions of the spreaders and of the runner.

. a i 3 Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, these show the handle H of the umbrella, said handle being provided with a holding loop L, as also shownin Figs. Zand 3. For convenience, the umbrella will be described in its upright position. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the handle H is provided with an annular recess 2, and said handle is also provided with a shank I having a central bore or recess. Said handle H can be made of metal or of any suitable material. A base tube 3, which is preferably made of metal, is located within the shank l of the handle The tube 3 can be held in place by means of any suitable cement or inany other suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 4, the stick of the umbrella comprises an outer and bottom sectionor tube i, and an inner and upper sectionor tube 8, which is telescopic within the outer tube 4. The outer tube 4 is slidably mounted upon the upper part of the base-tube 3, as shown in Fig. 6. l

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the upper part of the base tube 3 is of less diameter than its bottom part, so that the outer tube or stick-section 4 can slide freely between the wall of the recess of the head H, and the outer surface of the upper end-portion of the base tube 3.

A tension spring 5 has its bottom end connected to a transverse pin 6, which is'connected to the base tube 3. The upper end of the tension spring 5 is connected to a transverse pin 1, which is connected to the bottom stick-section 4.

The upper transverse pin I acts as a stop, in

order to limit the downward movement of theouter stick-section 4 relative to base-tube 3, because said upper pin 1 abuts the upper end of the base-tube 3, when the outer stick-section 4 is moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5.

The ribs of the umbrella comprise inner sections I9, adjacent the stick of the umbrella, and outer'rib sections 28. Said outer rib sections 26 are provided with tips 29.

Whenthe umbrella is in the position shown in Fig. 5,'the runner II} is held in position by resilient latch 9. One end of said latch is connected to stick-section 4, and the other end of said latch extends through a slot of said stick section and slot Illa of runner I9. The bottom end of said runner I I) may abut the top of shank I of handle H.

As shown in Fig. 11, the stick-sections 4 and 8 may be of general circular cross-section. In order to prevent the inner top stick-section 8 from turning relative to the outer bottom sticksection 4, said stick-section 8 may be provided with longitudinal grooves 38-, and stick-section 4 with longitudinal beads 31 which fit snugly in said grooves 38, while permitting a vertical sliding movement between said sections 4 and 8. The grooves 38 terminate in lateral end-walls at their bottoms. The bottoms of beads 3'I abut the bottom end-walls of grooves 38 when stick-section 8 has been slid upwardly to the highest upper position which is shown in Fig. 4, in order to limit the upper sliding movement of stick-section 8 relative to stick-section 4.

A suitable latch 34 is provided for holding the stick-section 8 in its top extended position relative to the stick-section 4. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, said latch 34 is suitably connected, as by rivets or the like, to a blade spring 35. Said blade spring 35 passes around a pin 38, which is connected to the inner stick-section 8. Said blade spring 35 grips said pin 36 with sufficient force to hold it to stick-section 8 and in the position illustrated in Fig. 8 and in Fig. 9.

Referring particularly to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the inner stick-section 8 is provided with a slot 39 and the outer stick-section 4 is provided with a slot 40. When the slots 39 and 48 register, as shown in Fig. 8, the blade spring 35 moves the latch 34 into its operative position. This is the position which is also illustrated in Fig. 4.

In order to release the latch 34 automatically from its operative position, the stick-sections 4 and 8 are pushed toward each other. This can be done by holding the umbrella at the ferrule F and at the handle H, and pushing said ferrule F and said head H toward each other. The upper stick-section 8 is connected to ferrule F. When head H is pushed upwardly, the base tube 3 is moved relative to stick-section 4 until the bottom portion of said base-tube 3 abuts and pushes against the bottom of stick-section 4. The slot 40 has a chainfered or inwardly inclined bottom Wall 4I, so that when suitable pressure is thus applied, the latch 34 is pushed inwardly by said inclined wall 4! against the force of spring 35, so that the stick-section 8 is then free to slide downwardly relative to stick-section 4.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the latch 34 can have sharp corners because inclined wall 4| acts as a cam.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the latch has rounded corners 84a, so that it is not necessary to provide the slot 40 with the inclined wall 4|.

The top stick-section 8 is also provided with the usual resilient latch II, one end of which can pass through a slot in said stick-section 8 and enter the slot Illa. of the runner II], when said runner II] is in the top position illustrated in Fig. 4.

Spreaders I4 are turnably connected to the runner III in any suitable manner. For example, the runner I8 may be provided with two superposed fianges I6, which have notches IGa, as shown in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 26. The spreaders I4 are provided with holes at their inner ends, and the inner end of each spreader is turnably located in a pair of superposed notches IBa. A wire I'I passes through the holes in the inner or bottom ends of the spreaders I4, so as to serve as a common pivot member for said spreaders I4. The ends of said wire I? are twisted or connected to each other in any suitable manner. Said wire is held between said flanges I6.

The runner It is also provided with a third flange I8, below the flanges I I5. Springs I5 are connected to said flange I8 and to the spreaders I4. Said springs are under tension, when the runner is at or adjacent the shank I of the handle H. Hence, when the tips of the ribs are released from the groove or recess 2 of the handle H, the springs I5 turn spreaders I4 and ribs 29 outwardly away from the stick-section 4, and said springs operate to move the runner II] upwardly until it abuts latch II. The runner I can then be pushed upwardly by hand to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, until latch I I passes through slot Illa.

For example, and referring to Fig. 26, the broken-line position of the spring I shown in Fig. 26, illustrates the tensed condition of said spring When the runner I0 is at or close to the tip of the shank I of the head H. The full line position of said spring I5 illustrates the position of said spring when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Springs I5 may then be under little or no tension or under any desired tension.

Fig. 12 shows a latch 4201., which can be used in place of the latch 34. Said latch 42a is integral with a shank of the blade spring 42, which can replace spring 35. As shown in Fig. 12, the latch 42a can be made by bending upwardly the lugs of the T-head of a shank of the spring 42.

Fig. 13 shows a latch 43, which can be used as a. substitute for the latch 34. Said latch 43 is provided with a shank 45, having a slot 4611. A transverse pin 46 is connected to the inner sticksection 8, to serve as a guide for the sliding movement of the shank 45. A blade spring 44 yieldably holds the latch 43 in its operative position shown in Fig. 13. This latch 43 has top and bottom inclined surfaces at its inner end or base, which cooperate with the inclined walls of the slot of the inner stick-section, so that latch 43 can be moved inwardly against the force of spring 44, so as to release the stick-section 4, when the stick-sections are pushed in opposite directions.

Fig. 15 shows a latch 48 of the same general contour as the latch 43. The stick-section 8has a slot whose top and bottom walls are inclined to each other, as shown in Fig. 13. Said latch 48 has a shank 48a, which fits either snugly or loosely within a helical compression spring 49, whose inner end is located in cup 49a, which is held by rivet 49b to stick-section 8.

The shank 48a also acts as a stop to limit the inward movement of the latch 48, as illustrated in Fig. 16.

Referring particularly to Figs. 17 and 18. each of the ribs comprises an inner section 19 having ageneral channel shape of U-shaped cross-section. Each of said ribs also comprises an outer section 26 which is of solid cylindrical shape, and each rib-section Ell can slide in the respective inher channel-section 19. Each channel-section it is provided at its outer end with a sleeve l9a, to serve as a guide and retainer for the ribsection 21!, so that the rib-section 20 cannot be pulled out of its channel-section I9.

The sleeve Isa canbe soldered to the outer end of its channel-section i9.

Referring to Fig. 18, each rib-section 20 has an enlarged and flattened head 2|, which is connected by means of a pivot pin 22 to the ribslide 23. Said rib-slide 23 is of general U-shaped cross-section, as shown in Fig. 20, and it may have inwardly bent ends 23a, so as to form an additional guide for the sliding movement of the rib-section 2B. The sleeve It acts as a stop, to limit the sliding movement of head 2!. Each spreader i4 is connected by means of a pivot pin 25 to its rib-slide 23. i

The cloth cover C of the umbrella is made of cloth segments which are stitched together so as to form inward seams adjacent the ribs, and said seams are connected to the rib-slides 23 by the threads T, which pass through suitable holes 231) of said rib-slides.

Referring to Fig. 18 and Fig. 21, a metal spacer M is connected to each rib-slide 23, by means of the pivot pin 25. As shown in Fig. 21, which is similar in this respect to Fig. l8,-'each spacer 24 is provided with a shoulder, which limits the movement of the spreader Hi relative to its rib-section [9.

Fig. 21 is essentially the same as Fig. 18, save that in Fig. 21 each rib-slide 23 is provided with notches??? instead of holes 23?) for receiving the thread T. Likewise in Fig. 21, the rib-section 20 is replaced by a rib-section '28, having a loop 26 formed at its inner end, instead, of the flattened head 2|.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 24, the basetube to is provided with a vertical slot 33, as shown in Fig. 23. Said base-tube 3a is cemented or otherwise secured to the handle H. A compression spring a has the lower end thereof connected to or abutting a pin 3|, which is connected to the bottom stick-section. The upper end of said compression spring 5a abuts or is connected to a pin 32, which is connected to said base-tube 3c. Therefore the spring 5a has the same action as the spring 5 of Fig. 6.

The slot 33 acts as a stop to limit the movement of the bottom stick-section 470.

It will be noted that in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the essential operating parts are concealed within the shank I of the handle H. On

the contrary, said parts are exposed inthe embodiment shown in Fig, 24. 1

As illustrated in Fig. 25, the bottom stick-section 4k and the top stick-section 3k, and the basetube to may be of elliptical or other non-circular cross-section, so as to eliminate the necessity for providing the beads 37 and grooves 38 which are shown in Fig. 11.

The inner ends of the rib sections l9 are pivctally connected at ltd in any suitable manner, to a collar 4a which is suitably connected to the upper end of the upper stick-section 8, by a drive fit or by other suitable means. Said member 40.

may have grooved flanges and a pivot wire, like 7 the construction shown in Fig. 26. The upper stick-section 8 extends above the collar 4a, as shown in Fig. 5, and the tip or ferrule F has a drive fit upon the upper end portion of the stick-section 8.

The member F can be held in any suitable manner to the upper end-portion of the stick-section 8.

The cloth covering C is clamped between the members do and F.

In order to define the invention further, and referring particularly to Fig. 5 and Figs. 23 and 24, the lower section of the stick is movable relative to the handle, and spring means are provided for urging the lower section of the stick to move relative to the handle. as the pin 1, are also provided for limiting the relative movement between the lower stick-sec tion and the handle, under the action of the spring means.

Some of the improvements specified herein are applicable to non-collapsible umbrellas, of the kind which have a single non-collapsible stickmember.

Stop means, such As shown in Fig. 4, when the umbrella is extended, the upper end of the runner iii abuts the bottom edge of the collar do. When the umbrella is collapsed, as shown in Fig. 5, the bottom. end of the runner iii abuts the upper end of the shank i, and the upper end of the stick-section i abuts the lower edge of the collar 4a.

The method of operating the device is as follows:

Whenthe device is in the completely collapsed position illustrated in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 5, the handle H can be grasped in one hand and the ferrule F can be pulled by the other hand away from the handle H.

The runner is held in-the position shown in Fig. 5, by means of the-latch 9. The stick-section Q Will therefore be pulled upwardly relative to the stick-section t so that the parts of the device assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 3. If desired, the tips 229 of the rib-sections 263 can be held during this manipulation.

The latch 3 or its equivalent will now enter the slots of the stick-sections 4 and 8, so as to hold them in their relative extended positions.

Upon pulling the handle H downwardly relative to the bottom stick-section 4, the natural resilience of the rib-sections 26 causes the tips 2d of said rib-sections 2!! to move to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the tips 29 are released from the groove 2. The latch 9 can then be pushed inwardly soas to release the runner Hi. The springs i5 operate to turn the spreaders Ht outwardly and to turn the ribs outwardly, so.

. to the shank I.

shown in Fig. 4, with the latch ll engaging the runner Hi by means of the slot Illa. If desired, the springs l5 could. be given sufilcient force to move the runner it automatically into the position shown in Fig. 4.

The angle between the spreaders M and the ribsections I9 is limited by the members 2 3. In order to collapse the umbrella, the latch I I is pushed inwardly by hand and the runner I is moved downwardly until it is engaged by the latch 9.

The handle H can then be moved downwardly so that the tips of the ribs can be moved close The handle H can then be allowed to move upwardly under the action of the spring 5 or Ea, until the tips 29 of the ribs are held in the groove 2.

Downward pressure can then be applied upon the ferrule F when the handle H is held stationary. This pressure automatically forces the latch 34, or its equivalent, inwardly, so that the parts assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that when the runner I9 is moved up and down, there is little or no shift between the rib sections. Said rib sections are moved substantially relative to each other, only when the stick-section 8 is moved downwardly relative to the stick-section i.

Therefore there is little or no wear on the ribsections or their associated parts, save when the stick sections are moved relative to each other.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. In an umbrella having a tubular stick and a handle and ribs and a runner slidably mounted on said stick, and spreaders pivotally connected to said runner and to said ribs, said handle having an upwardly extending and hollow shank, and a recess around said shank, said recess being shaped to receive and to hold the tips of the ribs, a tube located within said hollow shank and fixed to said head, the outer wall of said tube being spaced from the inner wall of said hollow shank, the lower end of said stick slidably located between said tube and the inner wall of said shank, spring means located Within said tube and connected to said tube and to said stick, and operative to urge the stick downwardly relative to the handle, spring means connected to said runner and to said spreaders and operative to turn the spreaders and ribs outwardly relative to the stick.

2. In an umbrella which has a stick and ribs, a handle member having a handle portion which comprises a hand-hold part and a hollow shank, a guide member located in said shank and connected to said handle member, the stick having its outer end-portion located slidably on said guide member, said handle member having a grooved portion shaped to receive the outer tips of the ribs and to hold the ribs against substantial movement away from the stick, and spring means connectedto the stick and to the handle member and operative yieldingly to hold the handle member in the position in which its grooved portion receives the outer tips of the ribs.

3. A collapsible umbrella having stick-sections which are telescopic relative to each other, a handle member having a handle portion which comprises a hand-hold part and a hollow shank, a guide member located in said shank and connected to said handle member, the bottom sticksection having its outer end-portion located slidably on said guide member, spring means connected to said handle and to said bottom sticksection and operative to urge said stick-section into said handle, a runner mounted on said sticksections and movable relative thereto, spreaders pivotally connected to said runner, spring means connected to said runner and to said spreaders and operative to turn the spreaders outwardly relative to said stick-sections, ribs comprising inner rib sections which are pivotally connected to the top stick-section, said ribs having outer rib sections which are telescopic relative to the inner rib sections, the outer rib sections being connected to slides which are slidable relative to the inner rib sections, said slides being turnably connected to the upper ends of the spreaders, said handle member having a grooved portion shaped to receive the outer tips of the ribs and to hold said ribs against substantial movement away from the bottom stick-section.

4. In an umbrella having a stick and ribs and a runner slidably mounted on said stick and spreaders pivotally connected to said runner, a handle member having a handle portion which comprises a hand-hold part and a hollow shank, a guide member located in said shank and connected to said handle member, the stick having its outer end-portion located slidably on said guide member, said handle member having a grooved portion shaped to receive the outer tips of the ribs and to hold the ribs against substantial movement away from the stick, spring means connected to the stick and to the handle memher and operative yieldingly to hold the handle member in the position in which its grooved portion receives the outer tips of the ribs, said ribs each comprising an inner section and an outer section which are telescopic relative to each other, each spreader having its upper end pivotally connected to a slide which is slidable relative to the inner rib section, the outer rib section having its inner end connected to said slide.

LOUIS A. CAPALDO. 

